Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has bemoaned the fact that UEFA have pressed ahead with the Europa League fixtures as originally scheduled.
The Reds travel to play Atletico Madrid in the first leg of the semi-finals of the European competition on Thursday. And the volcanic ash cloud that has turned a significant part of Europe into a no-fly zone has made it difficult for teams playing on the European stage to commute to their destinations for the first leg of their respective games.
However, the Spaniard maintains that he is more concerned about the return journey, which could have a bearing on the club's domestic aspirations.
"We are assessing things hour by hour," Benitez told the press. "We have two or three options going and at this moment just one coming back but we will see if we can improve that.
"The key point is we can prepare the flight or travel to Madrid but we have to wait.
"We have the organisation for coming back as soon as possible but any way it will be Saturday - which is not the best for the Premier League game [away to Burnley on Sunday]."
"If the airports are open maybe we can fly directly but at this moment it is more difficult to come back than it is to go."
He added: "In these special circumstances it could be better to postpone the game but we have to go.
"We had some time yesterday to rest the players. It will not be ideal but we will try to do the best for the players.
"The news we have is we will go to London and see what can happen. Maybe then the airports will be open and maybe we can fly from there.
"The key point is we can prepare the flight or travel to Madrid but we have to wait."
The Reds travel to play Atletico Madrid in the first leg of the semi-finals of the European competition on Thursday. And the volcanic ash cloud that has turned a significant part of Europe into a no-fly zone has made it difficult for teams playing on the European stage to commute to their destinations for the first leg of their respective games.
However, the Spaniard maintains that he is more concerned about the return journey, which could have a bearing on the club's domestic aspirations.
"We are assessing things hour by hour," Benitez told the press. "We have two or three options going and at this moment just one coming back but we will see if we can improve that.
"The key point is we can prepare the flight or travel to Madrid but we have to wait.
"We have the organisation for coming back as soon as possible but any way it will be Saturday - which is not the best for the Premier League game [away to Burnley on Sunday]."
"If the airports are open maybe we can fly directly but at this moment it is more difficult to come back than it is to go."
He added: "In these special circumstances it could be better to postpone the game but we have to go.
"We had some time yesterday to rest the players. It will not be ideal but we will try to do the best for the players.
"The news we have is we will go to London and see what can happen. Maybe then the airports will be open and maybe we can fly from there.
"The key point is we can prepare the flight or travel to Madrid but we have to wait."
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